Illuminated umbrella

ABSTRACT

The illuminated umbrella includes a substantially translucent canopy supported by a plurality of ribs pivotally swingable towards and away from a shaft. Each of the ribs has attached intermediately of its length to one end of a spoke. The other spoke end is pivotally attached to a slidable sleeve on the umbrella shaft. At least one flexible isotropic electroluminescent string light source may be disposed along, and fastened to, at least one of the plurality of ribs. Alternatively, instead of being fastened to the ribs, the flexible isotropic electroluminescent string lights may be disposed in a pattern and attached to the canopy. A power supply disposed on the umbrella supplies power to the flexible isotropic electroluminescent light strings. Power may be supplied to the electroluminescent light strings without requiring the use of a connection socket or plug to the electroluminescent light strings.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/773,690, filed Feb. 16, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an illuminated umbrella, and moreparticularly, to one providing light from a flexible, isotropicelectroluminescent (EL) light source attached directly or proximate to acanopy of the umbrella.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional umbrella is essentially comprised of a canopy supportedby a plurality of ribs, pivotally swingable towards and away from ashaft, the plurality of ribs, each attached intermediately of its lengthto one end of a spoke, the other spoke end being pivotally attached to amanually slidable sleeve on the umbrella shaft. Sliding the sleeveupwardly on the shaft moves the spokes against the ribs to extend themto a position that supports the canopy.

Related art illuminated umbrellas generally provide a power source, aswitch in the handle, the power source being connected to electric wiresthrough the switch and on to provide power to point, anisotropicillumination sources to make the handle function as a flashlight, or tomake the top of the shaft function as traffic alert, or to illuminatethe tips of the ribs to function as decoration or a traffic alert, andthe like.

These point source lighting effects generally are ineffective either asdecoration or as alerts due to their anisotropic nature. Otherilluminated umbrellas may employ point source lights while attempting tospread the light through the use of light permeable rods. Yet a problemremains in that significant portions of the umbrella may not receivelight treatment due to the rigid nature of the light permeable rods thatcannot collapse and bend throughout the extent of a generallycollapsible and flexible umbrella canopy, and again, there remains theproblem of the lights generally being perceived as emanating fromdiscrete points. Accordingly, lighted umbrellas, such as those disclosedin Japanese Patent No. 9-313,226, published Dec. 9, 1997, JapanesePatent No. 2001-299,420, published Aug. 13, 2001, and Japanese PatentNo. 2002-177,028, published Jun. 25, 2002, have attempted to solve theaforementioned problems, but lack the features and technical solutionsprovided by the present invention.

Thus, an illuminated umbrella solving the aforementioned problems isdesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The illuminated umbrella provides light to an umbrella that achieves allthe purposes of safety alerting, lighting, and an esthetically pleasingand decorative design. To achieve this purpose, the illuminated umbrellaincludes a substantially translucent canopy supported by a plurality ofribs pivotally swingable towards and away from a shaft.

Each of the ribs is attached intermediately of its length to one end ofa spoke. The other spoke end is pivotally attached to a slidable sleeveon the umbrella shaft. At least one flexible, isotropicelectroluminescent string light source may be disposed along andfastened to at least one of the plurality of ribs. Alternatively,instead of being fastened to the ribs, the flexible, isotropicelectroluminescent string lights may be disposed in a pattern andattached to the canopy. A power supply disposed on the umbrella suppliespower to the flexible, isotropic electroluminescent string lights,preferably without requiring the use of a plug or socket to complete anelectrical connection to the light strings.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of the illuminated umbrellaaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the illuminated umbrella according tothe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the illuminated umbrella according tothe present invention, showing the switch and handle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an illuminated umbrella according to thepresent invention having the light strings attached to the canopy.

FIG. 5 is an electroluminescent (EL) power wiring schematic diagram ofan illuminated umbrella according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of an illuminated umbrella according tothe present invention, showing further details thereof.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides light to an umbrella to achieve thepurposes of safety alerting, lighting, and an esthetically pleasing anddecorative design. As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6, to achieve this purpose,the illuminated umbrella includes a power source 112; a mode switch 305;a power cable 209; flexible, isotropic electroluminescent (EL) stringlights 110; and a typical functioning umbrella that includes a handle125, a shaft 115, spokes 615, slider sleeve 605, ribs 120, tip 620 and acanopy 117, preferably made of a water-resistant, highly flexibleplastic or other similar material.

The plurality of the ribs 120 supports the canopy 117, which ispreferably substantially translucent. Each of the ribs 120, beingpivotally swingable towards and away from the shaft 115, have one end ofa spoke 615 attached at an intermediate point of the rib 120, anotherend of the spoke 615 being pivotally attached to a slidable sleeve 605on the umbrella shaft 115. When the slidable sleeve 605 is extended upthe shaft 115 to a locked position proximate to the distal end of theshaft 115, the canopy is unfolded to protect a user from the rain.Additionally, as the canopy 117 is unfolded, flexible, isotropicelectroluminescent string lights 110 are extended on the canopy 117 oralong the ribs 120, and when powered up provide various lightingpatterns emanating from the umbrella 105, the lighting patterns beingvisible to the user as well as others when the canopy 117 issubstantially translucent.

The power source 112 and mode switch 305 are provided in or near thehandle 125 at a proximal end of the shaft 115. The power source 112 isconnected to the power cable 209 at an originating connector. The powercable 209 runs inside a hollow in the shaft 115 and is connected to theflexible, isotropic electroluminescent (EL) string lights 110 at aterminating connector near an upper shaft aperture in close proximity toa distal end of the shaft 115, such as at shaft radial wall aperture205. Slidable sleeve 605 has a U-shaped slot to provide clearance forthe electrical connection at shaft radial wall aperture 205 when thesleeve 605 is locked in a distal position along the shaft 115.

EL lighting strings 110 comprise a cable-like structure having flexibleelectrodes, i.e., wires, a flexible dielectric core, andelectroluminescent material disposed within the cable-like structure. ELlighting strings 110 may be provided in different colors as required fora desired visual effect. Due to the flexible nature of the wiring of ELlighting strings 11 0, electrical connection to the power cable 209 maybe achieved by splicing, soldering, crimping, and the like; thus,preferably the illuminated umbrella may not utilize any type ofelectrical socket or plug to complete the power connection.

Additionally, each individual EL lighting string 110 is capable ofdirect connection to the power source 112 without an intervening powercable 209, provided that the EL lighting string 110 is of sufficientlength to be disposed through the shaft radial wall aperture 205 and runinside the hollow shaft 115 to power connections at the supply 112. Withor without the use of a separate power cable 209, the electrical powerconnections of EL string lights 110 to the power supply 112 arepreferably in parallel, as shown in FIG. 5.

The power source 112 is preferably an inverter, which provides a workinghigh voltage alternating current of suitable voltage and frequency toefficiently operate the electroluminescent string lights 110. Preferablythe power source 112 is compact, lightweight, and utilizes standardbatteries, such as, without limitation, two 1.5-volt AA size batteries.As shown in FIG. 3, the power source 112 may have an indicator light310. The indicator light 310 may be capable of indicating power on/offstatus. Additionally, the indicator light 310 may be capable ofindicating a pattern mode of EL string lights 110. Preferably on/offpower switch 305 is also capable of switching the pattern modes of ELstring lights 110. Pattern mode switching provided by power switch 305in conjunction with power supply 112 may include a continuous mode inwhich the EL string lights 110 are on continuously, a blink mode inwhich the EL string lights 110 repetitively turn on and off in a firstpredetermined duty cycle and frequency, and a strobe mode in which theEL string lights 110 repetitively turn on and off in a secondpredetermined duty cycle and frequency. Various other lighting patternmodes of EL string lights 110 may be provided, and the aforementioneddescribed pattern modes are not a limitation of the present invention.

Each of the flexible isotropic electroluminescent string lights 110 maybe disposed along, and fastened to, at least one of the plurality ofribs 120. As shown in FIG. 2, eight string lights 110 are fastened toeight ribs 120 by substantially cylindrical, preferably resilient,retaining sleeves 207. Each retaining sleeve 207 may have a slit (notshown) through which the light string 110 and rib 120 may be passedthrough. Due to the resilience of retaining sleeve 207, the slit closesup substantially to keep light string 110 fastened to rib 120 inproximity to the retaining sleeve 207. A plurality of retaining sleeves207 disposed along the rib 120 secure the fastening of light string 110to the rib 120 along a predetermined length up to the entire length ofthe rib 120.

Alternatively, each of the flexible, isotropic electroluminescent stringlights 110 may be disposed in a pattern on, and attached to, the canopy117, preferably along an inside surface of the canopy 117. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 6, the EL string lights 110 are attached to the insidesurface of the canopy 117 by canopy attachment sleeves 405 and disposedin a simple radial pattern running substantially parallel to the ribs120.

However, since the canopy attachment sleeves 405 are attached to thecanopy 117 instead of being attached to the ribs 120, the canopyattachment sleeves 405 may be placed in a variety of configurations onthe canopy 117, so that the EL string lights 110 being retained by thecanopy attachment sleeves 405 may be disposed in a variety of complexpatterns defined by the placement of the canopy attachment sleeves 405.The canopy attachment sleeves 405 may be glued on, sewn on or otherwiseattached to the canopy 117.

The EL light strings 110 may be threaded through the canopy attachmentsleeves 405 and, optionally, glued or sewn to the canopy attachmentsleeves 405. Alternatively, the EL light strings may be directlyembedded in, glued on, or otherwise attached to the canopy 117 withoutthe assistance of canopy attachment sleeves 405.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. An illuminated umbrella, comprising: an umbrella having asubstantially translucent canopy, a shaft, and a plurality of ribssupporting the canopy, the ribs being pivotally swingable towards andaway from the shaft, the shaft having a slidable sleeve mounted thereon,a spoke being pivotally attached between the slider and each of the ribsbetween opposite ends of the ribs, the canopy being extendible to anopen position and collapsible against the shaft in a closed position bysliding the sleeve on the shaft; at least one flexible, isotropicelectroluminescent string light source disposed along and fastened to atleast one of the plurality of ribs; and means for supplying power to theat least one flexible isotropic electroluminescent string light source,the means for supplying power being disposed on the umbrella and havinga socketless and plugless connection to the at least one light source.2. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said umbrellafurther comprises a handle disposed on the shaft opposite the canopy,the means for supplying power being disposed proximate the handle. 3.The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, further comprising: amode switch electrically connected between said means for supplyingpower and said electroluminescent string for switching illuminationpatterns of said electroluminescent light source.
 4. The illuminatedumbrella according to claim 1, wherein the slidable sleeve has a slotdefined therein providing clearance for a power connection from saidmeans for supplying power to the at least one electroluminescent lightsource.
 5. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one electroluminescent string light source is directly connectionto said means for supplying power.
 6. The illuminated umbrella accordingto claim 1, wherein said at least one electroluminescent string lightsource comprises a plurality of electroluminescent light sourceselectrically connected in parallel.
 7. The illuminated umbrellaaccording to claim 1, wherein said means for supplying power comprises asource of alternating current.
 8. The illuminated umbrella according toclaim 1, wherein said means for supplying power comprises an indicatorlight electrically connected to indicate power on/off status.
 9. Theilluminated umbrella according to claim 8, wherein said means forsupplying power comprises a circuit configured for indicating a patternmode of the at least one flexible isotropic electroluminescent stringlight source through said indicator light.
 10. The illuminated umbrellaaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a mode switch electricallyconnected between said means for supplying power and saidelectroluminescent string for switching illumination patterns of saidelectroluminescent light source, the switched illumination patternsincluding a continuous mode in which said electroluminescent strings areon continuously, a blink mode in which said electroluminescent stringsrepetitively turn on and off in a first predetermined duty cycle andfrequency, and a strobe mode in which said electroluminescent stringsrepetitively turn on and off in a second predetermined duty cycle andfrequency.
 11. An illuminated umbrella, comprising: an umbrella having asubstantially translucent canopy, a shaft, and a plurality of ribssupporting the canopy, the ribs being pivotally swingable towards andaway from the shaft, the shaft having a slidable sleeve mounted thereon,a spoke being pivotally attached between the slider and each of the ribsbetween opposite ends of the ribs, the canopy being extendible to anopen position and collapsible against the shaft in a closed position bysliding the sleeve on the shaft; at least one flexible isotropicelectroluminescent string light source attached to the canopy, theelectroluminescent string being arranged in a pattern; and means forsupplying power to the at least one flexible isotropicelectroluminescent string light source, the means being disposed on theumbrella.
 12. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, whereinsaid umbrella further comprises a handle disposed on the shaft oppositethe canopy, the means for supplying power being disposed proximate thehandle.
 13. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, furthercomprising: a mode switch electrically connected between said means forsupplying power and said electroluminescent string for switchingillumination patterns of said electroluminescent light source.
 14. Theilluminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein the slidable sleevehas a slot defined therein providing clearance for a power connectionfrom said means for supplying power to the at least oneelectroluminescent light source.
 15. The illuminated umbrella accordingto claim 11, wherein the at least one electroluminescent string lightsource is directly connection to said means for supplying power.
 16. Theilluminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein said at least oneelectroluminescent string light source comprises a plurality ofelectroluminescent light sources electrically connected in parallel. 17.The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein said means forsupplying power comprises a source of alternating current.
 18. Theilluminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein the at least oneelectroluminescent string light source is attached to the canopy alongan inside surface of the canopy.
 19. The illuminated umbrella accordingto claim 11, further comprising at least one sleeve attached to saidcanopy, said at least one electroluminescent string light source beingdisposed through the at least one sleeve.
 20. The illuminated umbrellaaccording to claim 11, wherein said at least one electroluminescentstring light source is attached directly to the canopy.